Garment stretcher



March 14, 1939. E. D. DAVIS GARMENT STRETCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 27, 1936 E. D. DAVIS GARMENT STRETCH- ER March 14, 1939.

Filed June 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITEDSTATES GARMENT STRET'CHER 7 Edward D. Davis, Chicago, Ill., assignor toThe Boye Needle Compa y, Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication June 27,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a garment stretcher, and more particularly toa garment stretcher which is useful in connection with the drying ofarticles which have been washed.

An object of the invention is to provide a stretcher of extremely simpleconstruction which facilitates the drying of articles by providing airpassages through which air may circulate. A further object is to providemeans for stretching garments during drying, etc., while at the sametime avoiding the use of folding parts, to a substantial extent, andwhile at the same time providing supports which are adjustable tovarious sizes. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as thespecification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in preferred embodiments, by theaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a side view in elevation of astretching member embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a

view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the leg and foot fins removed; Fig.3, a side view of the leg fin; Fig. 4, a plan view of the foot fin; Fig.5, a transverse sectional View, the section being taken as indicated atline 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a transverse sectional view, the section beingtaken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 1; Fig. '7, a front view inelevation of a modified form of stretcher; Fig. 8, a topedge view of theconstruction shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a view similar to Fig. 8, butshowing the support member folded; Fig. 10, a view of the constructionshown in Fig. 9, the view being taken as indicated at line 10 of Fig. 9;and Fig. 11, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken asindicated at line 11 of Fig. 7.

In the illustration given in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, a flat strip I0,made of laminated wood, metal, or other suitable material, is preferablyformed in the desired shape. In the illustration given, the piece I isin the shape of a stocking. The foot is provided with a slot IIextending centrally therethrough, and the upper portion of the piece I0is provided with a vertical slot I2. If desired, the upper portion ofthe member I!) may be provided with an opening I3, by which the form canbe supported upon a hook or nail, etc. A vertical fin I4, of the shapeshown in Fig. 3, is provided with a central slot I in its lower portionand may be extended through slot I2 of member I0 to the position shownin Fig. 1, the slot I5 of the member I4 receiving a lower portion of thepiece III.

A foot fin I6 is provided at its rear side with a slot I1 and may beextended into slot II of piece I0 to the position shown in Fig. 1, theslot 1936, Serial No. 87,783

I! of fin I6 receiving the rear or heel portion of the foot of piece I0.

It will be observed that the piece Ill may be provided with foot fins I6of varying sizes, so that one of the forms Ill may thus be madeadaptable to dry stockings of a large number of sizes. Also, thevertical fin I4 may be made of varying widths so as to adapt it for thedrying of stockings of varying sizes.

The invention contemplates the use of a set of leg and footfins ofseveral sizes to accompany each main support Ill.

It will be observed that the changes in sizes may be made without theuse of any folding parts or any metal locking devices,such as latches,etc., and which can readily get out of order. The simplicity of thepresent construction is such that adjustments can be made readily andwithout danger of injuring the parts.

In the operation of the device, the fins I4 and I 6, of the propersizes, are placed within their respective slots in the member ID and thestocking is drawn on to dry. The form I0 may then be suspended, the holeI3 receiving a nail or hook. In this position, the air circulates freelyfrom inside and outside of the socket, the spaces between the members IOand I4, and Ill and I 6, providing large passages through which thedrying medium passes.

In the construction shown in Figs. 7 to 11,

inclusive, I provide a support adapted for the drying of shirts,sweaters, and other like garments. If desired, the body may be formed ofone strip. In the illustration given, I provide two complementary framebodies I8 and I9, respectively, which are connected together by hinges28. Each of the members is provided with an arm portion ZI, providedwith a central slot. Through the slot, extends an arm fin 22.

Secured to the rear side of member I9, is a fixed rib 23, the rib beingsupported at right angles to the plane of the body member I9 and havinga portion 24 extending forwardly through the opening 25, providedbetween the members I8 and I9. Thus, the member 23 provides an laminatedwood, or of metal, or other suitable material.

In each and all of the modifications shown, it will be observed that Ihave provided a form member equipped with slots through which may bepassed a slotted fin, and that, by means of this construction, I providea simple adjustable form which permits the free circulation of airreadily throughout the interior of the garment. The stretcher forms areextremely simple in construction and permit folding in, compact, flatpositions.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character set forth for tl1e drying of a garment,a body member over which the garment to be dried may be drawn, saidmember being equipped with a slot, and a removable fin extending throughsaid slot and in angular relation to said body member.

2. In a device of the character set forth, a body member over which thegarment to be dried may be drawn, said member being provided with aslot, and a, removable fin member also provided with a slot, said slotsbeing brought into alignment to lock said fin in angular relation tosaid body member.

3. A stretcher-dryer for stockings and the like, comprising a flat bodymember having a foot portion and a leg portion, and removable finscarried by said leg portion and foot portion and extending on oppositesides thereof, said fins and body member being provided with slots forlock- 7 ing said fins to said body member.

4. A stretcher-dryer for shirts and the like, comprising a frame member,said frame member having hinged sections and being provided with a finsecured thereto, said frame having an opening in the central portionthereof through which one side of the fin extends.

5. A stretcher-dryer for shirts and the like, comprising a flat bodymember hingedly connected at the center, said body member being providedwith outwardly extending arm portions, a'fin secured to the centralportion of said body member, and fins being secured to said arm portionsand substantially at right angles to said first mentioned fin.

6. In a dryer frame for shirts and the like, a fiat body provided with acentral opening and hingedly connected at its center, said fiat bodymember being provided with outwardly extending arm portions, a finmember secured centrally to said body member and having a portionextending through said central opening, and fins removably secured tosaid arm portions.

'7. In a device of the character set forth for drying garments, a fiatbody member of generally the contour, in one plane, of the garment to bedried, said member having a central slot extending longitudinally inwardfrom its end, and a fin member extending substantially at right anglesto said body member, said fin member having a slot extendinglongitudinally from its end, the slot of said fin member engaging thesides of said body member and a slot of said body member engaging thesides of said fin member to releasab-ly connect said members together.

8. A stretcher-dryer for shirts and the like, comprising a frame memberhaving hinged sections, each of said sections having an arm portionequipped with an angularly related fin, said fins being staggered so asto be one above the other when said. sections are folded together aboutsaid hinge.

EDWARD D. DAVIS.

